Trick or Treatment—The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine (Electronic book text)

It would not be difficult to test some of these claims, but as yet there have been no serious studies. However, informal tests comparing the judgements of feng shui consultants demonstrate significant conflicts over their interpretation of the energy flow in any given space, which implies that their advice is based on subjective imaginings.

Therefore all we can say is that there is no evidence to show that feng shui does anything but enrich those who promote it.

Conclusion

Feng shui is based on biologically implausible concepts and there is no evidence to show that it works. A competent interior designer can probably offer equally good, if not better, advice.

Food Supplements

Substances usually taken by mouth to increase the intake of vitamins, minerals, fats, amino-acids or other natural substances in order to maintain or improve health, fitness or wellbeing.

Background

Food supplements are a relatively new invention. At present, sales are booming. Regulation of food supplements varies nationally but, generally speaking, it is very lax. Manufacturers can sell supplements without providing proof that they do any good at all, and often without sufficient data on safety.

Medical claims are not normally allowed for food supplements. This does not, however, stop the industry from cleverly conveying the message that this or that supplement is effective for treating this or that condition. Health writers, books and the internet relentlessly target the consumer with exactly that aim.

What is the evidence?

It is obvious that not all food supplements are the same, as is the case with herbal supplements, which were discussed in detail in Chapter 5. Some are likely to be useful and are supported by evidence; others are either unproven or disproven, and many supplements carry risks of adverse effects. The dangers can be due to a supplement’s inherent properties, contamination (e.g. heavy metals), or adulteration (e.g. synthetic drugs). Also, it is likely that there are many adverse effects that are not known due to lack of research and under-reporting.

Fish-oil capsules, as discussed in Chapter 6, are an excellent example of an effective supplement, because they have been proved to reduce the risk of heart disease. They may also reduce inflammation, which might make them beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis and many other conditions.

Shark cartilage, also discussed in Chapter 6, is an example of a popular supplement which has been shown to be ineffective. Although it is probably harmless, it can distract patients from seeking more appropriate treatment and it is certainly damaging for the sharks who are victims of the supplement industry.

Vitamin B₆ is an example of a supplement that can be harmful in large doses. It can result in nerve damage to the arms and legs. There are several reports of people reporting such complications having taken 500mg of B₆ per day.

Conclusion

Food supplements are a very broad category — too broad to generalize. Some are undoubtedly helpful in certain situations. For many others, the effectiveness is uncertain or even disproven. Adverse effects can occur.

Hypnotherapy

The use of hypnosis, a trance-like state, for therapeutic purposes.

Background

Hypnotherapy has a long history — it can be traced back to ancient Egypt — but its modern development started in the eighteenth century with the work of the charismatic Viennese scientist Anton Mesmer. He was followed in the nineteenth century by the Scottish physician James Braid.

In recent years, hypnotherapy has become recognized in several areas of healthcare. Hypnotherapists treat a range of chronic conditions, including pain, anxiety, addictions and phobias. Hypnotherapy is practised by several healthcare professionals, including psychologists, counsellors and doctors. One session lasts 30–90 minutes and, depending on the condition and the responsiveness of the patient, 6–12 sessions are normally recommended. Autogenic training is a self-hypnotic technique, which, after some instruction, can be practised without the help of a therapist.

What is the evidence?

People who are suggestible generally respond best. Dozens of clinical trials show that hypnotherapy is effective in reducing pain, anxiety and the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. However, according to reliable reviews by the Cochrane Collaboration, it is not effective for smoking cessation, even though it is frequently promoted in this context. There is much less research for autogenic training, but the existing evidence is encouraging for anxiety, stress, hypertension, insomnia and some pain syndromes.